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In the beginning, most relationships feel like love at first sight. Everything is new and exciting, and suddenly even the birds chirping sound as though they’re doing it just for you. Clearly, a new love can easily make everything seem right in the world.

Yet, during this infatuation phase of the relationship, you may want things to be so perfect, so badly, that it’s easy to overlook some potential red flags.

Up to 40 percent of Americans will be exposed to a traumatic event during their lifetimes, according to the America Psychiatric Association. Some people are able to go through such a trauma — a natural disaster, mass violence, a terrorist attack, war, or other traumatic accident — without developing significant psychological symptoms. For many, however, the incident can take a major emotional toll, leading to:

Many people, from managers at work to adults at home with a family, often fall into the trap of ‘doing everything.’ You may think that you can do the task better, or faster, than anyone else can. Or you may simply not want to impose on anyone by asking for help. You may even do everything yourself because you feel guilty if you’re not busy all the time.

No matter what the reason, working on overdrive can quickly swallow you up and lead to overwhelming feelings of stress. Not surprisingly, one-third of Americans are living with extreme stress, according to the American Psychological Association (APA), and 48 percent say their stress levels have gone up in the past five years.

You are looking down the barrel of a gun, standing in the path of a tornado (both figuratively, we hope), or about to embark on the most difficult journey of your life, yet you are calm, cool and composed. You are the picture of focus and tranquility…

The United States is a pet-loving country. In all, two-thirds of U.S. households own at least own pet (39 percent own at least one dog, and another 36 percent own at least one cat), according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association 2007-2008 survey. Pets are also increasingly looked at as members of the family.

Americans are not only spending more time and money on their pets (close to $41 billion in 2007), they’re regarding them as an integral part of the household. For instance, 40 percent of people who carry pictures of their spouse and children in their wallet also carry a picture of their pets.

The aspect of pet ownership that nobody likes to think about — the loss of a pet — is therefore an emotionally trying time full of all of the feelings that surround the death of a loved one: grief, sadness, loneliness, and other feelings of loss.

When is the last time you gave yourself a pat on the back, or rewarded yourself just for being you? Chances are it’s been awhile. Yet, sadly, you have probably criticized yourself in some way or another multiple times today. For instance, one ABC News article reported that 35 percent of women have negative thoughts about their body up to five times a day. Yet, how many times have you thought positive things about your appearance, personality or accomplishments? Not enough to count?